Canal check gate apparatus

ABSTRACT

A pivotal canal gate swings downwardly to restrict flow in a canal with increasing water flow in the canal, and swings upwardly as canal flow decreases to maintain a generally constant head downstream of the gate. Apertures in the gate connect to a tank on the back of the gate, water flowing into the tank is drained downstream through a valve in the tank at a predetermined rate. A member slidably mounted on the gate and levered over a fixed fulcrum progressively opens or closes the apertures accordingly as the gate swings upwardly or downwardly. A selectively positionable counterweight on a moment arm extending from the back of the gate allows selected counterbalancing.

United States Patent Bunger 1 May 30, 1972 54 CANAL CHECK GATE APPARATUS v 2,984,986 5/1961 Hill ..61/25 ux [72] Invent m' f' gg 'g Harlan Primary Examiner-David J. Williamowsky g Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan [22] Filed: Apr. 28, 1971 Attorney-Richard D. Law

21 App1.No.: 138,199 [57] ABSTRACT A pivotal canal gate swings downwardly to restrict flow in a EtSIIL... cana i i g water fl i th a al a d wi gs up- Fie'ld /25 26 22 wardly as canal flow decreases to maintain a generally constant head downstream of the gate. Apertures in the gate connect to a tank on the back of the gate, water flowing into the [56] References Chad tank is drained downstream through a valve in the tank at a UNITED STATES PATENTS predetermined rate. A member slidably mounted on the gate and levered over a fixed fulcrum progressively opens or closes 1,776,371 9/ 1930 Ramunno ..61/25 the apertures accordingly as the gate Swings upwardly or 1 1 3/1931 Huguem" downwardly. A selectively positionable counterweight on a 2,186,131 l/ 1940 Young ....61/25 moment arm extending f ha back f the gate allows 2,616,266 1 1/1952 Hale ....61/25 Selected counterbalancing 2,699,652 1/1955 Laszlo ....6l/25 2,904,963 9/1959 Lewin ..61/25 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented May 30, 1972 4 Sheets-Shoat 2 FIG. 2

w a F 4 1 v w w 5 3 \5 a 0 5 4 9 r a A 3 a a M W F 4 FIG. 5

Fl 6 6 INVENTOR MILLS E. BUNGER BY a 25W ATTORNEY 4 Patented May 30, 1972 4 Sheets-Shut 5 E. BUNGER ZJM/ INVENTOR MILLS 0%0/ ATTORNEY Patented May 30, 1972 3,665,715

4 Sheets-Shoot &

INVENTOR MILLS E. BUNGER FIG. 7

CANAL CHECK GATE APPARATUS Water is a critical resource which must be used prudently in most areas. Irrigation is practiced in many areas of the world, and generally water is transferred by means of canals. The canals are expensive and the water flowing through the canals must be controlled to prevent damage to canals, as by flooding. Further, water in the irrigation channels or canals must be efficiently and controllably used and diverted.

In general, the present invention provides check gate apparatus regulating water flowing into a canal. The invention relates to regulation of canal gate opening to produce constant head. Constant hydraulic head is important for maintaining generally constant flow through irrigation canals to maximize the beneficial effect of the irrigating water and insure proper distribution of the water.

Included among the objects and advantages of the present invention is to provide gate apparatus for diverting and/or regulating water flow in a canal. Another object and advantage is to provide gate apparatus which regulates water flow to produce a generally constant head in a waterway downstream from the gate. Yet another object is to provide gate apparatus readily adaptable for use in channels, canals, and other waterways which vary in size and/or flow velocity. Still another object and advantage of the present invention is to provide gate apparatus which may be easily and conveniently set to automatically regulate water flow head and which may be selectively operated. A further object of the invention is to provide means for controlling a canal head gate under flooding conditions.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention may be readily ascertained by referring to the following description and appended illustrations, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partially cut away, of apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detail of one portion of the apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic, reduced, side view showing operation of the apparatus of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a side view, partially schematic, of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

Considering FIGS. 1 and 2, a gate 1 is suspended from shaft 2 rotating in trunnions 3 placed at the sides of a canal of rectangular cross-section with concrete side walls 5 and 6. Gate 1 may be a large, usually reinforced, rectangular plate whose dimensions and thickness are determined by canal size and flow characteristics. Gate 1 may be fabricated from any strong material such as steel, and structural members may be fixed thereto to add rigidity and strength. Gate 1 is welded, bolted or otherwise rigidly fixed to conventional shaft 2. The opposed ends of shaft 2 may be rotatably fixed in trunnions 3 which are fixedly mounted as on concrete footings, etc., on the canal sides.

A number of large apertures 6 (FIG. 2) are formed through gate 1, each of the apertures being step-wise vertically displaced from its neighbor. In operation, all but a selected one of the apertures 6 is selectively plugged as by plugs 7a, 7b, and 7c. Numerous types of plugs may be utilized including the rectangular plugs 7a, 7b and 7c. Each aperture has a diameter large enough so that a significant amount of water may flow therethrough, the cooperation of the apertures with other gate apparatus will be explained later herein.

A tank 8, being vented or having at least a partially open top 8a, is fixed to the downstream side of gate 1, and the apertures 6 communicate with the tank so that tank 8 collects water flowing through any of the apertures 6. Although tank 8 may have numerous configurations, the chosen configuration should be such that tank 8 does not impinge on water flowing in the canal before the water strikes gate 1. Valve 9, placed near the bottom and rear of tank 8, communicates with the interior of the tank to release water collected by tank 8 downstream at a predetermined rate of discharge. Valve 9 may be any one of many well known manually operable valves which may be preset to discharge a predetennined amount of water from tank 8 in a given time.

Also, mounted on the downstream side of gate 1 and interior to tank 8 are a number of pairs of parallel, generally vertically running slide tracks 15 (only one pair being shown in FIG. 1). Each of the pair of tracks 15 encompasses one of the apertures 6 in gate 1.

Blade 7, an elongated rigid member, is slidably mounted in one set of slide tracks 15 to slidably cover an open aperture 6. Blade 7 is sufficiently long to extend well beyond the top of gate 1 while its lower portion covers the lowest aperture 6 in gate 1. The upper portion of blade 7 may be slightly curved and a number of spaced apertures 19 may be formed therealong. Slide tracks 15 may be conventional tracks allowing blade 7 to slide easily therealong.

Blade 7 slides in tracks 15 to progressively open or close one of the unplugged or open apertures 6 as gate 1 is rotated upwardly or downwardly, respectively. One embodiment ofa mechanism to actuate sliding movement of blade 7 includes a fulcrum member 17 fixed transversely above the canal on uprights 13 on sides 5 and 6 slightly behind gate 1 and a shaft member 18 pivotally fixed at one end to blade 7 and pivotally fixed at the other end to a structure extending to the rear of gate 1. Shaft member 18 may be pivoted over or through one of the apertures 20 formed along the length of fulcrum member 17. The ends of shaft member 18 may be pivotally fixed in any number of conventional arrangements. Selectively setting shaft member 18 in one of the apertures 19 of blade 7 selectively presets the initial vertical displacement of blade 7 in tracks 15 on gate 1. As gate 1 rotates, shaft 18 is pivoted over stationary fulcrum member 17 raising or lowering blade 7 relative to gate 1. When another aperture 6 is selectively used (the first aperture 6 then being closed by a plug), blade 7 is placed in the track 15 corresponding to the next aperture and, generally, the initial vertical displacement of blade 7 is selectively changed by placement of. shaft 18 into another aperture 20 along blade member 7. When another track 15 is selected, shaft 18 must be displaced horizontally; shaft 18 is then pivoted through a corresponding vertically displaced aperture 20 in fulcrum member 17. Shaft 18 may be of selectively adjustable length by having a threaded end portion with a nut thereon. The end of shaft 18 away from blade 7 may be made selectively horizontally displaceable by, for example, having an apertured portion 18a formed through that end of shaft 18 and a horizontally running shaft 27 parallel to gate 1 on the structure extending to the rear of gate 1 with this latter shaft fitted through the apertured portion 18a in shaft 18 for sliding movement of shaft 18 on the latter shaft 27.

The structure extending to .the rear of gate 1 may include two frame members 21 and 22 extending generally normally rearward from gate 1 to provide a moment arm for swinging gate 1. A variable position weight mechanism, indicated in general by numeral 40 in FIG. 1 is supported between members 21 and 22. Although the moment arm members 21 and 22 may have numerous designs, the illustrated design is suggested as providing adequate structural strength as well as design simplicity in that the end walls of tank 8 are common with the moment arm members.

FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 illustrate one embodiment of the variable moment mechanism 40 supported by frame members 21 and 22. Tracks 24 and 25 are mounted parallel and, in one position, in a generally horizontal plane from frame members 21 and 22, respectively. Carriage 28, with wheels 29, is selectively movable or positionable upon the tracks 24 and 25 to provide a selectively variable weight and a variable moment about gate shaft 2. Tracks 24 and 25 may be conventional tracks, for example, having an inverted T cross-section. Numerous mechanisms may be utilized to provide a selectively positionable weight on the moment arms, the illustrated mechanism is but one effective embodiment. In this embodiment, roller chain loop 42 is fastened at 43 to cross member 41 of carriage 28 and supported in tension by circular gears 44a and 44b respectively. Gear 44a is placed medially of the frame members 21 and 22 near the top of gate 1 on cross member 65 and gear 44b is placed medially near the far end of the frame members on cross member 66 so that chain loop 42 is generally parallel to the tracks 21 and 22. Drive motor 45, mounted fixed between frame members 21 and 22 as on transverse support member 23, may be used to rotate one of the gears (here, gear 44b) by gear 48 fixed on gear 44b engaging motor shaft 49 to move chain loop 42 and, thereby, move carriage 28. Other drive means, including manual means may be used, for example a turning knob 80 on gear 44a may be used to manually rotate it and move the carriage. Carriage 28 may be fastened in a wide variety of ways to loop 42 so as to move therewith. Caniage 28 itself is merely a wheeled frame, having four wheels 29 riding on tracks 24 and 25, to support a weight bucket 46. Weight bucket 46 is a sturdy, open topped container swingably suspended from carriage 28 by members 47 and a selected amount of loose weight may be placed in bucket 46. The bucket may be swingably suspendable from carriage 28 between arm members 21 and 22 by members 47 to maintain the bucket in upright position at all times.

Variable stop means, indicated in general by numeral 50, fixed vertically to the side of the canal may be utilized to stop the upward swing (here, clockwise) of gate 1 at predeter mined heights. In the present embodiment, stop means 50 includes a channel 51 secured to the canal wall and having positioning apertures 52 formed at upper positions therein. Stop member 53, with contacting end 54, slides in the track and is selectively positionable therein by mating an aperture in member 53 with an aperture 52 in track 51,'and placing a pin 56, for example, through the mating apertures to secure the stop member at a selected height.

Float-switch mechanisms, indicated in general by numerals 60 and 65, may be utilized to activate automatic positioning of the variable moment mechanism 40. Float-switch mechanism 60 positioned behind gate 1 includes a float 61 constrained to up-and-down movement in a perforate pipe 62. The vertical position of float 61 may be sensed by any number of mechanisms (not shown), mechanical or electrical, as are well known, and the position transmitted, for example, by cable 63 to motor 45 to activate the motor in accord with the position of float 61. For example, at high water the float mechanism 60 would activate motor 45 to move weight carriage toward gate 1 to increase the moment tending to close the gate and, thereby, reduce the water level in the canal. In use, the lower tip of gate 1 may rest upon weir 64 in canal 4, the presence of the weir reducing the necessary extent of gate 1. Float-switch mechanism 65 (FIG. 7) is essentially the same as mechanism 60 but is positioned upstream from gate 1 near lateral canal gate 70 and may be set to be activated under flood or near flood conditions. Float mechanism 65 includes a float 67 slidably moving vertically in perforate pipe 66 including sensing mechanism (not shown) to transmit signals by cable 68, for example, to activate motor 45 to vary the moment in gate 1 in accordance with the position of float 67. Typically, a lateral canal is formed upstream from a canal gate to function as a spill-off or relief canal under flood conditions; lateral canal gate 70 is shown as a conventional radial gate pivoted on stub shafts 71 and 72, respectively, and which opens under predetermined hydrostatic pressure causing a moment on the lower portion of the gate. Other types of well known gates may be utilized to provide selective spill-ofi under flood conditions. In such flood conditions, it is desirable to have gate 1 in the closed position; however, downstream float mechanism 60, when gate 1 has been closed for a long duration, would ordinarily deliver signals to the variable moment mechanism on gate 1 to decrease the closing moment on the gate 1. Conventional mechanism (not shown) may be provided such that signals from float mechanism 65 override signals from float mechanism 60 under, for example, upstream high water conditions. Then, under flooding conditions, gate 1 would stay in closed position and flooding water would be diverted through the lateral spill-off canal through gate 70. The upstream position of float mechanism 65 and/or gate may be a matter of choice.

Operation of the apparatus of the invention may be understood by referring to FIG. 1, and assuming the water level in the canal to be rising and assuming the aperture 6 to be opened by blade member 7. Since the gate is normally balanced, rising water unbalances the gate by the apparent loss of weight by water displacement. The force of the flow of water pivots gate downwardly. Shaft 18, pivoted over stationary fulcrum member 17, will push blade member 7 downwardly progressively closing aperture 6 as gate 1 pivots downwardly. Water will cease flowing through aperture 6 and as water discharges from tank 8, the gate swings upwardly. Upward movement opens aperture 6 tending to fill tank 8 and overweighting the gate toward closed position. Assuming gate 1 to now have closed against weir 64 and assuming the water level behind the gate to have subsided, gate 1 will not necessarily remain closed because of the hydrostatic water pressure on the gate face. Rather, the water will drain, in some predetermined time, from tank 8 via valve 9 reducing the moment resisting the counterweights 40. Assuming the counterweights to be properly adjusted, gate 1 will pivot upwardly allowing further flow in the channel past the gate. The equilibrium position or counterweight force on gate 1 may be selectively determined by the positioning of carriage 28 along the tracks 24 and 25 on the moment arm or frame members 21 and 22. The weight container 46 swings so as to retain the loose weights therein whatever the gate position. As gate 1 pivots upwardly, blade member 7 sliding in tracks 15 will progressively uncover aperture 6 allowing water to flow into tank 8, the weight of the additional water in tank 8 progressively resisting upward rotation of gate 1. Equilibrium gate position may also be selectively varied by selecting a different aperture 6 to be uncovered (the others being plugged). The reaction rate of the gate to changing flow conditions may be selectively varied by selectively setting the rate of water discharge through valve 9, and/or by adjusting the position at which blade member 7 will open or close the aperture 6 by selecting the position of shaft 18 in apertures 19 along the top of blade member 7. The equilibrium position of the gate may also be selectively varied by adjusting the position or weight of the counterweight mechanism 40; the gate 1 may be selectively opened or closed by selectively moving counterweight mechanism 40. In flood conditions, the counterweight may be moved toward the gate by signals from float mechanism 65, overweighting the gate toward closed position, causing it to remain closed. When the flood condition has subsided the balanced condition may be resumed by moving the weights away from the gate. This arrangement insures that the gate will remain closed during flooding, preventing damage to the gate and/or the canal.

I claim:

1. Gate apparatus, to regulate flow in canals and like waterways, comprising:

a. shaft means placed above and transverse across a canal;

b. a rotatable gate suspended from said shaft means to swingingly extend downward into the canal for restricting or stopping water flow in the canal, said gate having a plurality of apertures at variable heights from the bottom formed therethrough for communication with water contacting said gate;

c. tank means fixed to the downstream side of said gate communicating with said apertures;

. valve means on said tank for selectively discharging water from saidtank;

e. plug means for selectively fixably plugging apertures of said plurality of apertures, at least one aperture being left unplugged;

f. blade valve means, including an elongated blade member and, at least one, first track means mounted in a vertical direction on'said gate having said blade member slidably mounted therein;

g. actuation means to actuate said blade member to progressively cover said at least one unplugged aperture as said gate is pivoted downwardly and to open said unplugged aperture as said gate is pivoted upwardly;

h. moment arm means fixed to said gate and extending therefrom in a downstream direction; and

i. variable counterbalance means selectively movably mounted on said moment arm means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said variable counterbalance means includes carriage means and weight means suspended therefrom.

3. Gate apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said carriage means includes a carriage and wheel means for moving said carriage along said track means, and said variable counter-balance means further includes a roller chain, gear means mounted on said moment arm means supporting said chain, said chain having at least one portion fixed to said carriage.

4. Gate apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said carriage means further includes actuating means on said moment arm means for turning said gear means to move said roller chain to move said carriage.

5. Gate apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said actuating means is a manual means for moving said carriage means.

6. Gate apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said actuating mean includes an electric motor, and float means placed downstream in the channel to automatically activate said power means to move said carriage according to the channel water level.

7. Gate apparatus according to claim 6 including float means placed in the canal sensing the water level and activating said power means in accord with changes in water level.

8. Gate apparatus according to claim 1 including selective stop means mounted at the canal wall cooperating with the gate to stop pivotal upward movement of said gate at a selected predetermined position.

9. Gate apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said stop means includes a track mounted at the canal wall, a buffer member means slidable on said track means and selectively positionable thereon to block upward movement of said gate at predetermined heights. 

1. Gate apparatus, to regulate flow in canals and like waterways, comprising: a. shaft means placed above and transverse across a canal; b. a rotatable gate suspended from said shaft means to swingingly extend downward into the canal for restricting or stopping water flow in the canal, said gate having a plurality of apertures at variable heights from the bottom formed therethrough for communication with water contacting said gate; c. tank means fixed to the downstream side of said gate communicating with said apertures; d. valve means on said tank for selectively discharging water from said tank; e. plug means for selectively fixably plugging apertures of said plurality of apertures, at least one aperture being left unplugged; f. blade valve means, including an elongated blade member and, at least one, first track means mounted in a vertical direction on said gate having said blade member slidably mounted therein; g. actuation means to actuate said blade member to progressively cover said at least one unplugged aperture as said gate is pivoted downwardly and to open said unplugged aperture as said gate is pivoted upwardly; h. moment arm means fixed to said gate and extending therefrom in a downstream direction; and i. variable counterbalance means selectively movably mounted on said moment arm means.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said variable counterbalance means includes carriage means and weight means suspended therefrom.
 3. Gate apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said carriage means includes a carriage and wheel means for moving said carriage along said track means, and said variable counter-balance means further includes a roller chain, gear means mounted on said moment arm means supporting said chain, said chain having at least one portion fixed to said carriage.
 4. Gate apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said carriage means further includes actuating means on said moment arm means for turning said gear means to move said roller chain to move said carriage.
 5. Gate apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said actuating means is a manual means for moving said carriage means.
 6. Gate apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said actuating mean includes an electric motor, and float means placed downstream in the channel to automatically activate said power means to move said carriage according to the channel water level.
 7. Gate apparatus according to claim 6 including float means placed in the canal sensing the water level and activating said power means in accord with changes in water level.
 8. Gate apparatus according to claim 1 including selective stop means mounted at the canal wall cooperating with the gate to stop pivotal upward movement of said gate at a selected predetermined position.
 9. Gate apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said stop means includes a track mounted at the canal wall, a buffer member meanS slidable on said track means and selectively positionable thereon to block upward movement of said gate at predetermined heights. 